Frequently asked Questions

A: No, a private utility easement is  deeded to AES which deems AES the permanently responsible party for all  discharges within the homeowner’s property.  Like a municipality, once  the “discharge” crosses your property line into the public  domain, the public entity, like a municipality, then becomes the  responsible party.  Think of the RECLAMATOR™Service as the electric  company, Gas Company, or any other utility.  The Homeowner is not liable  for what happens in a dedicated utility easement, hence the purpose for  the easement.  Upon subscribing for your RECLAMATOR™Service, you are  indemnified and FREE of all liabilities associated with your discharge.   AES assumes 100% liability from that day forward. 

A:  No, once you take a “definitive action” to cease your discharge, you are no longer subject to penalties for violation.

A:  Once you subscribe for the  RECLAMATOR™Service, you no longer are subject to additional County  assessments or fines as you no longer have any liability.  Your  discharge is within the dedicated utility easement of AES.  If anyone  had to hookup to the sewer, it would be AES, not you.  If the County  made AES hookup, they would be obligated to PAY AES for your reclaimed  water.  They can’t charge sewer fees and pay for your reclaimed water at  the same time.  Without being able to charge you for sewer, the County  can’t pay to build a sewer.

A:  You have already been assessed a 1st  assessment for $25,000.  That assessment must be used to comply with  federal “pretreatment requirements” and pay for the RECLAMATOR™Service.   After you have the RECLAMATOR™Service, there’s no need for additional  assessments to pay for a County sewer collection system as 1) there’s no  longer “sewage” to collect from your property, and 2) your property is  no longer liable for “discharge”, only the AES utility easement.

A:  The State has already issued Cease and  Desist Orders followed by Notices of Violation to all properties in the  Prohibition Zone.  They have already said they are going to fine  homeowners $5,000 per day by 2011 if their discharge has not been  stopped.  

A:  Cost and completion.  The project will take  approximately 2 years at best.  2011 is only 2 ½ years away.  By  waiting, the cost will only increase as it is scheduled to increase by  $5,000 August 1st.  Currently, AES is offering a program where the first  333 customers to sign up will receive a 100% rebate upon the 2008th  customer signing up.

A:  Three (3) main reasons.  The local  governments have come to rely on water and sewer project revenues to  support themselves.  Supporting the RECLAMATOR™Service represented them  losing out on 1) a $250 million dollar plus County sewer  project, 2) around $500 thousand dollars per month revenue from monthly  sewer user fees and 3) the ability to gain control of your water to  reclaim and resale it for their own economic benefits.  The  RECLAMATOR™Service enables you to be self sustainable, maintain control of your own water for your own beneficial reuse applications and economic benefits. 

A:  Yes.  It is the ONLY federally compliant, county permitted and approved alternative to the County sewer.

A:  The Service Establishment Cost of the Compliance Model is $20,000 installed plus a $44.88 Minimum Monthly Service Fee, the Conservation Model is $25,000 installed  plus a $67.32 Minimum Monthly Service Fee.  For the first 333 customers  to sign up, AES is paying $5,000 of the Service Establishment Cost for  either option selected.  The sewer would cost upwards of $100,000 per  household before it would have been completed and does not qualify for  federal grant assistance.

A:  A typical installation will only take 2 to 3 days.  Our installers will be certified and specialize in onsite applications.

A:  Yes, the average household uses  approximately 200 gallons per day.  Using the water saved by the  RECLAMATOR™Service to flush your toilets alone would save an average of  50% or 100 gallons of your daily household water usage.  Imagine our  Community conserving almost one million gallons of drinking water a day  in this time of drought!

A:  Yes, in Los Osos it is operating at 1408 Las  Encinas, come see for yourself.  Over one hundred projects using the  RECLAMATOR™Service technology have been working for 20 years.

A:  AES in partnership with the National  Sanitation Foundation will monitor the equipment via internet with  bi-annual site inspections.  Just like the gas or electric utility  companies, AES maintains their service to your home, you never have to  worry about it.

A:  They are removed (like a septic tank) and  reclaimed on an average of every five years.  Actual frequency depends  on individual usage, i.e. garbage disposal, persons in home, etc.  The  cost for removal is billed over a 6 month period.

A:  Yes.  Five local branches, Bank of America,  Wells Fargo, Rabobank America, Coast National and Heritage Oaks have all  committed to provide very affordable and competitive financing for  RECLAMATOR™Service customers.  A list of contact persons of each bank is  available from AES upon request. 

A:  Yes.  Upon start of the project an  application will be made for federal grant assistance to pay, at a  minimum, 75% of the costs incurred establishing the RECLAMATOR™Service  in Los Osos.  This normally takes a couple of years to acquire.  Upon it  being issued, you will be directly reimbursed moneys you have spent for  Service Establishment up to that 75%.

A:  Call 439-0510 for an  appointment.  An AES Authorized Customer Service Representative will  visit you at your residence.  The AES Rep will inspect your yard and  assist you to complete your RECLAMATOR™Service Subscription Agreement.

A:  Initially within 30 days.  As the project gains momentum, it will be in the 60-90 day range.